Lecture Notes
- Our ideas are not produced by us individually, other aspects determine what we produce because of the society around us. Modern society controls and dictates our ideas
- Themes of lecture: discipline, punishment, madness. Michel Foucault.
- Madness was thought of differently before the 1600's than it is now. 'Insane' people were accepted and a part of society
- In the late 1600's 'houses of correction' opened. Those who weren't useful for society (insane, poor, criminals, unemployed) were thrown in. Anyone who couldn't be put to work was put in, threatened and beaten to make them productive. This idea worked for a while, but in the end actually corrupted people, as insane people made the others deviant
- With the birth of the asylum, insane people were separate from the sane. They were treated like children, if they did well they were rewarded, instead of the way the 'houses of correction' controlled citizens. This was more effective and controlled people mentally than with threats of physical pain.
- Specialists gain social status and become the judge. They support these institutions. It shifts from someone taking responsibility for their own behaviour, to someone else taking charge.
- The pre-modern punishments were spectacular. Example: Guy Falkes sentence was that he was to be cut up, then burnt - a brutal act of physical torture, showing how powerful the king was. These punishments are not to correct or train you but to be an example to others of what the punishments and embarrassment that come with them are.
- Society eventually realised there were more effective ways of keeping people under control.
- Modern discipline is a technique about controlling someones conduct.
- Designed in 1791, Foucault writes about it in 1970
- The panopticon is a metaphor of societies disciplinary control. This round, four level building has control like society does
- The panopticon could be a multi-functional building, could be a school, a hospital, a prison, a workplace, a library...
- Each cell has a window, which is backlit. There is a central tower for guards who can observe. The cell mates can't see anything but the tower
- It is the 'perfect mechanism for control', like a machine
- The central observation tower is not lit so prisoners can't see if they are being watched
- There are modern day versions of this prison
- Each prisoner is separated in their own cell, and they are constantly aware that they are being watched by the central tower, but they can't see the other prisoners due to the positioning of the cell, so they feel isolated at the same time
- It has a strange effect on the prisoners not knowing if you are being watched or not
- People start to control themselves, they didn't try and escape. They kept themselves disciplined as they thought they would be punished if they did wrong
- The idea is that you never do anything wrong because you're behaving how you think you should if you are being constantly scrutinised.
- The panopticon has a variety of functions, almost like lab rats being used to measure performance
- It is the 'perfect mechanism for control', like a machine
- The central observation tower is not lit so prisoners can't see if they are being watched
- There are modern day versions of this prison
- Each prisoner is separated in their own cell, and they are constantly aware that they are being watched by the central tower, but they can't see the other prisoners due to the positioning of the cell, so they feel isolated at the same time
- It has a strange effect on the prisoners not knowing if you are being watched or not
- People start to control themselves, they didn't try and escape. They kept themselves disciplined as they thought they would be punished if they did wrong
- The idea is that you never do anything wrong because you're behaving how you think you should if you are being constantly scrutinised.
- The panopticon has a variety of functions, almost like lab rats being used to measure performance
- If it was a school the pupils wouldn't get distracted as they can't see each other
- Could also be a factory to make the workers work hard with distraction
- The purpose of the panopticon is to make people more productive
- There are examples of panopticism in lots of buildings now. The lecture theatre is designed to make you productive, as you can't see many people apart from those next to you, but the lecturer can see everything that is going on
- Panopticism is the shift in power, where discipline is about surveillance and training, not just punishment
- There is an element of this idea in modern workplaces, but you might not realise it, although you naturally act accordingly anyway
- The open plan office is an efficient system that allows the boss to constantly see whats going on, so you don't skive, you work harder
- The arrangement of space makes you productive. You know you are being surveyed, so you do what you are supposed to
- Just the idea that you are being watched makes you change your own behaviour to act correct and what is perceived normal
- There are different factors (disciplinary measures) that make you act in a different way than you would if you were relaxing. Such as the fact you can be seen, you are being registered, and your performance is being measured.
- Open plan modern bars and pubs mean you know you are being watched so you feel less at ease, as you can't make that space your own, but these plans are easier to be controlled.
- Panopticism is everywhere. CCTV is an obvious example, also google maps. Our lives are being recorded, and we have the fear of being caught out
- Other examples of panopticism are a prison lecture, where there are barriers in between each student so they can't see each other, and also a library reading room.
- Panopticism does not just refer to physical spaces, as files are kept on people in workplaces.
- Nowadays, security cameras are revealed because it physically reminds people to behave. The point isn't to catch people out, but to encourage them not to do wrong.
- This isn't just mental discipline, but physical as it turns into the body responding to being controlled
- Obedient bodies do what those in control want us to do. They won't rebel- they are the opposite of lazy as they work harder
- Even the gym is an example. The government wants to make sure everyone stays healthy so they can work harder. Your body is on display so you make yourself work harder
- The retirement age has been raised because everyones healthier and lives longer now. It is all about staying productive for society
- Images of the perfect body are displayed everywhere, being a visual reminder of how you 'should' be
- You even receive instructions from what you watch on TV
- The marxist approach to power would be that the ruling class has power over the working class, but power is a two way thing here, you behave because you want to. You understand the relationship, and can resist this power in some ways.
- Facebook is an example of panopticism, as everything you put on it is being watched. So you act like a performance of yourself, you put on what you want people to see. You change your behaviour as you have a kind of power
- We live in an illusion we are the ones in charge, but in reality we are always being scrutinised
- Panopticism does not just refer to physical spaces, as files are kept on people in workplaces.
- Nowadays, security cameras are revealed because it physically reminds people to behave. The point isn't to catch people out, but to encourage them not to do wrong.
- This isn't just mental discipline, but physical as it turns into the body responding to being controlled
- Obedient bodies do what those in control want us to do. They won't rebel- they are the opposite of lazy as they work harder
- Even the gym is an example. The government wants to make sure everyone stays healthy so they can work harder. Your body is on display so you make yourself work harder
- The retirement age has been raised because everyones healthier and lives longer now. It is all about staying productive for society
- Images of the perfect body are displayed everywhere, being a visual reminder of how you 'should' be
- You even receive instructions from what you watch on TV
- The marxist approach to power would be that the ruling class has power over the working class, but power is a two way thing here, you behave because you want to. You understand the relationship, and can resist this power in some ways.
- Facebook is an example of panopticism, as everything you put on it is being watched. So you act like a performance of yourself, you put on what you want people to see. You change your behaviour as you have a kind of power
- We live in an illusion we are the ones in charge, but in reality we are always being scrutinised
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